Iran's national football team players have been granted visas to enter the United States, a White House official confirmed, just 10 days before their first match in Los Angeles. The development comes amid ongoing conflict between the two nations.

Iran's ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, had stated late Thursday that the squad had not yet received US visas, but they were issued overnight, according to the official.

US Ambassador to Turkiye Tom Barrack confirmed the visas in a post on X, praising the US Embassy in Ankara for processing the visas. However, semi-official Fars news agency reported that some technical and administrative staff members have not yet received visas.

The Iran Football Federation has not commented. The US-Israel war with Iran has turned the World Cup into a geopolitical stage, marking the first time since 1930 that a host nation receives a country it is at war with.

Tehran negotiated relocating the team's base from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico, due to visa issues. The team is scheduled to arrive in Tijuana early Sunday.

Iran's first Group G match is against New Zealand on June 15 in Los Angeles, followed by matches against Belgium and Egypt.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated Tuesday that the US would not allow individuals linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran's delegation. Iran's football federation president Mehdi Taj, a former IRGC commander, was denied entry for the December draw in Washington.

Ambassador Pasandideh claimed Iran's participation in the World Cup, even on enemy soil, demonstrates its desire for peace. Peace talks between Iran and the US are reportedly progressing slowly amid ongoing military strikes.

Source: www.aljazeera.com